High-speed low-drift electronic comparator having positive and negative feedback paths

Claim 1

A HIGH-SPEED ELECTRONIC COMPARATOR CIRCUIT FOR COMPARING FIRST AND SECOND INPUT VOLTAGES, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A FIRST INPUT TERMINAL FOR RECEIVING SAID FIRST INPUT VOLTAGE; A SECOND INPUT TERMINAL FOR RECEIVING SAID SECOND INPUT VOLTAGE; A SUMMING JUNCTION; A FIRST IMPEDANCE CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SUMMING JUNCTION AND SAID FIRST INPUT TERMINAL; A SECOND IMPEDANCE CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SUMMING JUNCTION AND SAID SECOND INPUT TERMINAL; AN AMPLIFIER CONNECTED TO AMPLIFY THE SIGNAL AT SAID SUMMING JUNCTION TO PROVIDE AN OUTPUT VOLTAGE HAVING A FIRST OR A SECOND LEVEL DEPENDENT UPON THE POLARITY OF THE SIGNAL AT SAID SUMMING JUNCTION; A FIRST SWITCHING CIRCUIT RESPONSIVE TO SAID OUTPUT VOLTAGE AND OPERATIVE TO APPLY A REGENERATIVE FEEDBACK VOLTAGE CONTINUOUSLY TO SAID SUMMING JUNCTION; AND A SECOND SWITCHING CIRCUIT RESPONSIVE TO SAID OUTPUT VOLTAGE AND OPERATIVE TO APPLY AN INPUT VOLTAGE DEGENERATIVELY TO SAID SUMMING JUNCTION IMMEDIATELY UPON EXCURSION OF SAID OUTPUT VOLTAGE OUTSIDE A SELECTED RANGE OF VALUES.